Our Family Cookbook

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Mauro’s Spaghetti alla Carrettiera

Serves 4.


Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons large salted capers

  • Grated pecorino cheese

  • Red pepper flakes

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • 1 box spaghetti

  • Extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 cup plain breadcrumbs 

  • 4 garlic cloves

  • 1 bunch fresh, flat leaf parsley 

  • 8 large black Sicilian olives

  • 2 cups diced fresh Italian tomatoes 


  1. Heat a small drizzle (about 1 ½ tablespoons) of oil in a frying pan over medium. Add in breadcrumbs. Stir to coat in oil and mix continuously until crumbs are a golden brown and all the oil has been absorbed. Remove from pan and set aside.

  2. Put a large pot of salted water to boil. 

  3. Peel and finely chop garlic. Discard parsley stems and roughly chop leaves until you have about a ¾ cup. Roughly chop olives into large pieces. Dice tomatoes into small cubes. Put pasta into the boiling water and set a timer to make sure you don’t overcook it. 

  4. Heat a large drizzle of oil over medium heat. Add a pinch of fresh pepper. Add garlic and stir constantly, being careful not to burn it. After about 30 seconds, add in chopped parsley and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Stir to coat in oil, then add in chopped olives and diced tomatoes. Add in 1-2 cups of the pasta water and mix. Add in capers and a small pinch of salt.

  5. Add drained pasta to the pan and mix to coat.

  6. Serve with toasted breadcrumbs and freshly grated pecorino cheese.